Pipette washing apparatus



March 28, 1944.

E. E. MYERS ET AL PIPE'I'TE WASHING APPARATUS Filed April 2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MINVENTORS.

mareb 'zs, 1944. E. E. MYERS ETAL 2,345,284

' PIPETTE WASHING APPARATUS Filed April 2, 1942 2 SheetS Sheet 2 E, y M F W 17.17.213.27 33232070710 INVENTORS.

- BY M,

Patented Mar. 28, 1944 .c

PIPETTE WASHING APPARATUS Elmer E. Myers and "Earl E. Beohm, Philippl, W. Va.

Application April 2, 1942, Serial No. 437,432 r 2 Claims. (Cl. 137-406) This invention relates to an apparatus designed primarily for washing and cleansing pipettes.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which will automatically fill and drain the receptacle or tank in which the pipettes are being washed, at pre determined intervals, to the end that the cleansing liquid is being constantly changed during the washing operation, to thoroughly accomplish the purpose of the invention.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 is an elevational view of a pipette washing apparatus, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view through the head or union connecting the ascending arm and descending arm of the siphon.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view through the bottom of the receptacle or tank in which the pipettes are supported during washing.

' Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 designates the support for the tank or vessel in which the pipetttes are washed. This support is in the form of a board having openings for the reception of securing screws, whereby the support may be securely mounted on a supporting surface.

The reference character 6 designates the tank or vessel in which the pipette tubes are washed, and is constructed preferably of glass, so that the pipettes may be viewed, during the washing operation. A securing band indicated at I is positioned around the tank or vessel 6 and secures the tank or vessel to the support 5.

The lower end of the tank or vessel 6 is formed with an extension 8 that is connected with the union 9 by the flexible tubular member I0, the extension being hollow, so that the contents of the tank or vessel may exhaust into the union 9. A pipe indicated at H indicates the ascending l2. The head I2 is formed with an openingto receive the descending arm I3 of the siphon, the exhaust end of the descending arm or pipe l3 of the siphon, terminating at a point below the union 9. An inlet opening is formed in the head "[2, and accommodates the pipe I4 to which the tubing I5 is connected, the tubing l5 being formed so that it may be positioned over the discharge spout of a spigot such as indicated at l6.

As clearly shown by the drawings, the side of the pipe I4 is much less than the size of the discharge pipe I3 to the end that the discharge of water from the tank or vessel, Will be greater than the supply of water to the tank or vessel, with the result that even though the water is entering the vessel, the contents of the vessel will be exhausted by the vacuum created in the arms of the siphon.

The reference character II, designates the rack or frame which is supported within the tank or vessel 6, and in which the pipettes being washed are supported, during the washing operation. A screen indicated at l8 covers the bottom of the rack or frame I! to prevent foreign matter from entering that portion of the tank or vessel, in which the pipettes are supported.

A strap indicated at I9 is positioned over one of the arms or pipes of the siphon, securing the siphon to the support.

In order to insure a fluid-tight connection between the pipe I4 and head I2, a gasket indicated at 20 is provided, and fills the space between the pipe [4 and head I2 of the siphon. In the use of the apparatus, it is desirable to support the apparatus above a sink, so that the water may discharge into the sink after it has passed through the tank or vessel 6.

In using the apparatus, the tank or vessel is supported adjacent to a spigot, and the tubing I5 is connected with the spigot so that water will enter the siphon head l2 at a point adjacent to the top of the tank or vessel. The rack or frame which has been filled with pipettes, is now positioned in the tank or vessel, the pipettes being positioned substantially vertically, so that Water may pass therethrough, to accomplish the cleansing of the pipettes.

As the water enters the ascending arm or pipe II, the Water will flow into the tank and fill the tank and pipe I I. Due to the weight of the water in the tank or vessel, the siphon head will fill with water and as the water flows through the pipe l3 of the siphon, the siphonie' action of the water will be started and the water arm of the siphon, which extends into the head will be drawn off from the tank or vessel by the siphonic action. The tank or vessel will be gradualiy emptied, since the amount of water exhausting from the siphon head is greater than the amount of water flowing into the tank.

When the water in the tank or vessel 6 has been exhausted, the water will again fill the tank or vessel, until the siphon is again started in a manner as described, whereupon the tank will be gradually emptied. This filling and emptying of the tank or vessel 6 will continue indefinitely, or until the flow of water from the spigot, through the tube l5 has been stopped.

What is claimed is:

" in parallel spaced relation with the combined 1. In an apparatus for washingipipettes, a3

vertical vessel, a combined inlet and outlet pipe extending along the side of the vessel and. being in communication with the vessel through'the' bottom thereof, a discharge pipe, sp'acedfrom the combined inlet and outlet pipe and disposed in parallel relation therewith, a siphon headconnecting the upper ends of the pipes and establishing communication between the pipes, a vertical water feed pipe extending into the siphon head, the discharge end thereof being disposed above the upper end of the combined inlet and outlet pipe in line therewith, the waterinlet and outlet pipe, a siphon head connecting the upper ends of the pipes, a water-feed pipe disposed above the combined inlet and outlet pipe and adapted to discharge water directly into the combined inlet and outlet pipe, the waterfeed pipe being of a diameter appreciably less than the diameter of the combined inlet and outlet pipe, whereby water may exhaust from the vessel at a rate of speed greater than the rate of speed ofthe water fed to the siphon head arid vessel.

ELMER E. MYERS. EARL E. BEQHM. 

